Homecoming parade – Sunday

If you are planning on coming to South Shields to pay tribute and say thanks to our local service personnel who have been active in Helmand province, Afghanistan on Sunday, then you need to be outside the Town Hall before 12:00 noon on Sunday to see the homecoming parade. Six volunteers from South Tyneside have recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The troops will be assembling at the Register Office in Broughton Road before parading at 12:20 around the rear of the Town Hall and moving down Beach Road to pass along Westoe Road. The parade will be led by the Pipes and Drums of 101 Regiment, and will include 205 (3rd DVA) Bty, RA (V) and 4 Platoon, 12 Company, 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment (V) in Hebburn.

The contribution, courage and sacrifices made by servicemen and women from South Tyneside who are currently serving or have served other conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone and Northern Ireland as well as Afghanistan and Iraq will also be recognised.
The Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor John Anglin is urging all serving or ex forces personnel, their families, friends and local people to come along to Sunday’s ceremony to welcome home the troops and remember those who have lost their lives.

The Mayor said: “While our troops have been away their flag has been flying from South Shields Town Hall. It will be lowered on Sunday and I will be honoured to return it back to their Battery Commander Major Peter Winton now that they are home.

The Last Post will be sounded as flag is lowered from the Town Hall and presented to the Mayor who will formally hand it over to Major Winton.

Major Winton said: “The support given by South Tyneside Council to the soldiers from 205 Battery who have deployed on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan has been second to none. We have been incredibly proud of the Council’s ground breaking decision to fly the Battery flag over the Town Hall and know it has been recognised far and wide as a mark of the close relationship between the town and its soldiers. Our soldiers will continue to serve on British Army operations in Afghanistan or wherever we are called upon to do so and it is heartening to know that we have the people of South Shields behind us.”

I would add, of course, that this event has not been designed solely for families or people with connections to the armed forces but is a great opportunity for all of us to become involved in expressing our thanks, admiration, and pride in the professional job that our troops do in very arduous circumstances wherever we send them. So come along, get down there, whatever the weather and give them all a good cheer!